title: Expression of mucin-1, galectin-1 and galectin-3 in human leiomyosarcoma in comparison to leiomyoma and myometrium.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The potential mechanism of malignant transformation from leiomyoma to leiomyosarcoma is still debated. The aim was the evaluation of expression patterns of mucin-1 (MUC1) (MUC1 VU-4-H5), galectin-1 (Gal-1) and galectin-3 (Gal-3) in human myometrium and leiomyoma and in comparison to leiomyosarcoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Myometrium, leiomyoma and leiomyosarcoma tissues were obtained from 79 patients. Samples were analyzed regarding the expression of MUC1, Gal-1 and Gal-3 by immunohistochemical staining of paraffin-embedded material.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The expression of MUC1 (VU4-H5) was up-regulated in leiomyoma (p = 0.065) and leiomyosarcoma (p = 0.039) as compared to the myometrium. In contrast, there were no significant differences in expression of Gal-3 in the tissues from the myometrium, myoma and leiomyosarcoma. Concerning Gal-1 expression, the differences were not significant comparing myometrium and leiomyosarcoma (p = 0.277). Myoma had elevated levels of Gal-1 compared to myometrium (p = 0.007) and leiomyosarcoma (p < 0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MUC1 and Gal-1 might be useful for evaluating the potential of leiomyoma to transform into leiomyosarcoma and, therefore, help in risk-adapted consultation and adjusted treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ludwig-Maximilian-University of Munich, Maistrasse 11, 80337 Munich, Germany. tobias.weissenbacher@med.uni-muenchen.de
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Weissenbacher
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kuhn
authors.forename: Doris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mayr
authors.forename: Roman
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pavlik
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Friese
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Scholz
authors.forename: Udo
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Jeschke
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ditsch
authors.forename: Darius
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dian
mesh_terms: D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D037483:Galectin 1 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D037502:Galectin 3 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006801:Humans; D007889:Leiomyoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D007890:Leiomyosarcoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D018396:Mucin-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D009215:Myometrium / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D037483:Galectin 1; D037502:Galectin 3; C445499:LGALS1 protein, human; C060192:MUC1 protein, human; D018396:Mucin-1